Signal relay system



April 6 1926. 1,579,427

J. WISEMAN ET AL SIGNAL RELAY SYSTEM Filed April 14 192s INVENTORS,

Abm ifim.

like, employing electrical impulses'ofi op Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITED "PATENT OFFICE;

SIGNAL RELAY srs'rnm.

' hpplica'tiolifiled April 14 1925. Serial No. 23,096.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM, both citizens or the United States, and residents of the-borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New" York, have invented certain: new and useful mprovements in S igmata Relay Systems,.-o.f which the tollowlng {1s a SPBOlfi'CLtlOIIz l Our invention relates to improved means:

3S1 are 7 for relaying electrical sig nals,v such: transmitted by submarine :cables and? the posed polarities.

The principal object of our inventionis to so relay the'received signals, which some times lose their proper defi-mteness: n trans I mission, so that thetransmitted signals shall be perfected reproductions of thereceived.

v matic plan of turec signals as sent as regardsduration .of'timc,

and the markingperiod of each'signal element, and of the spacing periods'between letters and words, and to accomplish thissolely by means of electromagnetic relays,-

timing resistance, condensers and batteries Another object of our invention 1S" t0 so arrange the. relay system that itshall opv crate automatically in the reception and transmission of the relay signals. Another object of our ln-vention 18 to accomplish the desired result by automatically? relaying the received signals withvany spree determined lengths of recording andspacing signals.

Still accomplish batteries and this by the use of electric electromagnetic relays only in combination with the appropriate cir- QQtO as;;c1rcuit-E cuits.

plain the system embodying'our improvements, referring 111 so doing to the-accomr panying' 'drawing whlch shows a diagram relay system interposed'betweeni linesfofi'reeceiving and sending cable messages,

The main line or" cable-1 carries theainlcoming signals to electromagnetic relays-"'2,

3, and through themto ground, the relays:

being wound" softhat relayd2 respbn electrical impulses" of one polarity and to impulses-'ofthe opposite polari-ty; 4 i

lay 21 controls the'armature 4, which mally in contact with the term nal 6; 'andrelay' 3;" V

through relay 14 to battery 18;vfrom which batter 1 line 7 connects witharmature 5, the cn'cuit being; completed over line 19.

to--this:-circuit as circuit A.-

relay- 26, a relay 8", relay through line- 42, to armature 30, line-48 pro- .vided with 'a 'branchr 50, relay- 52, to. line 48,

another object of our'invention is to "the line 48, through b'ranchy50, normally e will now proceed to illustrate and ex-. 7

tery 40, through line42, armature 30,.line

and, resistance; 32, armature 36' and line 38,-

an improvedelectromagnetic.

.backto? battery a a closed armature 10 of relay 8, from. which \VISE'MAN andv armature the line 12 continues to and For simplification we will hereafter refer A line. 22, having a branch 24, extends to 28, and. timing resistance 32, to armature 36,; line 38, to bate tery 40, from-Which; battery line 42 extends tov armature:- 30, lines-"44, 46iand' armature Armatures 16 and 27 are-normally open, and armatures'36-and 30 are normally closed. i

This circuit will hereafter be referred to as circuit B;

The line 44 alsoextends from circuitvB to line '19. Y

A circuit may alsobe traced from battery 40,- through line 42', line 43', armature 27 ,line- 24,-relay 26, linef22, relay's 8, 28 and resistance 32, armature-36, line'f38 and back tobat'teryf 7" This circuit will hereafter be referred tov asi'circuitiC. I 5

Another circuit extends from battery 40,

line 38, andback to-bat-t'ery .40." I r This: circuit willr hereafter be referred to ascircuit- D. 7 a Al modification of'circuit D is read'from 7 open armature, 54,5line' 56, relay 34, to line 48, andrback to battery as before.

Another circuit maybe tracedi from' bat-'- 44,-"l-in'e 1-9farinatr1re 4-, line; 58, relays 60 and 64, line- 68, line 22, relays '8 and 28' v H Hereafter we; will refer'tothis circuit as: circuit-F; f T, p t

branch; 72. from; line 58 extendsto armature--66 adaptedto close: with line '70 t, -extenrling togline' 42- andibazttery 410.--=:-

- circuit F will: here attire 62 ada' ptedto n;' fionndithrough line;

' close with branch 50 thus Hereafter this circuit will be referred to as circuit H.

Another circuit may also be completed as follows. From battery 40, through line. 42, armature 80, line 4A, line 19, armature 5, line 59, through relays 61 and 65, through line 68, line 22, relays 8 and 28, resistance 32, armature 36, line 38, back to batteryelO.

This circuit will hereafter be referred to as circuit 1.

Line 59 is provided with a branch 73, leading to an armature 6? controlled by relay 65, adapted to be closed thereby with line 70 connecting with line l2 and bat tery 10. p

This modified circuit will be hereafter referred to as circuit J.

A circuit may then be read from line 7 6 to armature. 62, line 75, battery 79, line 74, armature 68, line 77 to ground.

This circuit will hereafter be referred to as circuit K. V

The operation of our improved system is as follows lVhen no signals are coming in over the cable l, and the relays 2 and 3 are de-encrgized, circuit A will be closed so as to form a path for the current from battery 18. The low of the current through circuit A energizes relay 1 1- and closes armature 16, completing the circuit 3 im-luding battery 40. The flow of the current through circuit B is slightly delayed by its triple path through relays 8 and 28 and resistance 32.

The flow of the currentthrough circuit B energizes the relay 26 and closes the armature 27 with branch 24, thus completing the circuit C, the circuit being locked against interference from a break in circuit B at armatures 16 or 30. This is necessarybecause the relays at 8 and 28 are also actuated, but more slowly than relay 26, cansing the following train of operation Armature 1 opens and breaks circuit A, de-energizing relay 1%, and causing armature 16 to break circuit B. Circuit (l, however, remains closed because the armature 2'? is locked by the action of relay 26. Simultaneously with the breaking of circuit A, rel y 28 causes armature 30 to break circuit T5, thus cutting off battery 40 from armatures i, and 16, thus insuring the completion of the desired train of operation by preventing any further incoming impulses of either polarity or the space impulses from interfering or starting a separate train of operation, until relay 28 is de energized, and armature 30 is again closed with line ist due to the consequent opening of armature 36. The closing of armature 30 with line 48 completes circuit D, energizing relay 52, and causing armature 54 to completing circuit E. The closing of circuit E energizes relay 34 and causes armature 36 to -open,

which de-energizes relay 28, thereby releasing armature 30 and breaking circuits 1) and E, and thus directly or indirectly causes all relays energized by battery l0 to be deenergized, and permits them to return to their normal positions.

As soon as armature 1O closes circuit A, the cycle of operations just described repeats itself, and will continue to do so indefinitely, so longas the foregoing arrangement is not interfered with.

However, when an impulse of definite polarity, received directly or indirectly over the main line 1, energizes relay 2, circuit A will be broken by the drawing down of armature a into contact with line 58, and the cycle of operations just above described will be automatically suspended. The closing of armature 4 with line 58 completes circuit F. The current in circuit F energizes relay 60, causing it to close armature 62 with line 74, thus completing circuit H.

The instant this circuit is completed marks the beginning of the time of sending out an impulse of definite polarity from the relay system herein described over the sending line 76. The duration of time of this impulse is predetermined and constant for each similar iinoulse of either polarity. The adjustment of the relay gaps and spring tensions and the'value of the timing resistance 32 determine this duration of impulse in the following cycle of events Relay 6% will be energized at the same time as relay 60, closing armature 66, and completing circuit G, and locking it against interference at relays 2 or 30. Relays 8 and 28 are energized, but their action is retarded after that of relafis 6O, 6% by resistance 32.

The opening of the armature prevents the operation of circuit A, even if an incoming signal over line 1 should permit the armature at to close with line The opening of armature cuts off the battery L0 from armatures l, 5 and 16, as already pointed out, thus insuring the com plction of the desired train of operations by preventing any further incoming impulses, of either polarity, or a space impulse, from interfering, or starting aseparate train of operations until relay 28 is de-energized and armature 30 is again closed with line t l-i due to the closing of armature 36 with line 38.

The closing of relay 30 completes circuit D; which, in turn, completes circuit E, opening circuit B at relay 36 as alreac y described, de-energizing all therelays supplied by battery and allowing them to return to normal positions. This allows the relay 62 to open, which terminates the transmitted signal.

The: instant of the closing of armatur r62lmarks the beginning of the transmitted signal, and-the instant of its opening, marks the system electrical currents F i em the termination of the signal; and it will'be obvious that the duration of the signal will be measured by the time occupied by u in completing the cycle above described, between the closing and the opening of the arr. ature 62. i'

We have 6X3liti119l the cycles of operations in spacing, and in sending a signal of a given polarity. If the signal is of the opposed polarity to thatassumed in the above explanation, relay 3will beenergized, and circuitI will be closed,'.in turn closing armature 6'? and completing circuit J, the consequent energizing of relay (ilclosing circuit K and resulting in the production of the relayed signal in the sending line circuit.

It two or more impulses of the same polarity follow each other so as keep either ot relays 4 or 5 closed for a period of timev longer ban the predetermined duration of one signal element,-the cycle out operation following the closing of circuit F or I, as the case may be, will repeat itself thenumber of times covered by such successive impulses of the same polarity, thus producing in the sending circuit, a corresponding number of distinct signals, each definite and complete of itself. y

We wish it to be understood that the system which we have diagrammat-ically illustrated, and described above is to be considered as a typical and not an exclusive embodiment of the principles of our invention. For, as will be understood'bythose skilled in the art, the details of arrange: ments may be modified, as by the use of equivalents, without departing from the spirit of our invention as claimed.

Having what we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United. States is 1. In a system for relaying incoming elec tric signalsvarying in duration and separation, the combination, with receiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and si'iccessively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, whereby the local circuits are automatically, closed by each other in a recurring cycle of operation during the inaction of amain line circuit.

2. In a system for relaying incoming electric signals varying in duration and separation, the. combination, with receiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay circuits, means for producing in the local circuits, and successively (acting electrpmagnetio relays includedin the circuits, whereby the local circuits are automatically, succes ively closed and opened by each other-in arecurring cycle of operation during the inaction at a ma n ine can.

' circuits thus described our invention,

successively tion, the combination, with; receiving and' sending main line circuits, of a plurality "otlccal relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents inthe local circuits, and successively acting electromagnetic relays included in thecircuits, whereby the local autlomatically, closed by each other in a recurringcycle ot' spacing operation duringthe inaction of a main line circuitat. In a system for relaying incoming elec-' tric signals varying in duration and separation, the combination, with receiving and tending main line circuits, of a plurality. of

successively local relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and

successively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, a plurality of such local" circuits being automatically, successively closed by each other, in a recurring cycleoit operation, during the inaction of a a main linecircuit, and an incoming main line signal causing another plurality ot'such local circuitsto be automatically, successivevly closed by each other, in a. cycle of signal ing operation. c 5. In a system for relaying'incon'iing electrio signals varying in duration and separation, the combination, with receiving'and V sending main line circuits, of a plurality oi local relay circuits,timing resistance therein,"means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and successively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, wherebythe local circuits are auto matically, successively closed by each other in a recurring cycle of operation. I

6. In a system for relaying incoming electric signals'varying in duration and separa tion, the combination, withreceiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and

successively-acting electromagnetic relays included in'the circuits whereby the local circuits are automatically, closed by each other in arecurring cycle of operation each cycle occupying the predetermined time of a spacing interval.

7. 'In a system for relaying incoming electric signals varying in duration and separa-.

tion, the combination, with receiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay crcuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and successively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, whereby the local circuits are automatically,successively closed by each other in a recurring cycle of operation each cycle occupying the predetermined time of a signal.

8. In a system for relaying incoming elect gnals v y ng in duration and parasuccessively tion, the combination, with receiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and successively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, whereby the local circuits are automatically, successively closed by each other in a plurality of sets of recurring cycles of operation each cycle of one set occupying the predetermined time of a spacing interval, and each cycle of another set occupying the predetermined time of a signal.

9. In a system for relaying incoming electric signals varying in duration and separation, the combination, with receiving and sending main line circuits, of a plurality of local relay circuits, means for producing electrical currents in the local circuits, and successively acting electromagnetic relays included in the circuits, whereby the local circuits are automatically, successively closed by each other in a recurring cycle of operation, and automatic means for preventing the interruption of a cycle during its progress.

10. The improved method of relaying electrical signals employing character periods and spacing periods, consisting in the employment of a system of progressively energized local circuits, controlled by electro magnets therein, and having a cycle of operation occupying the time of a spacing period, and another system of progressively energized local circuits, interrelated with the first mentioned system and having a cyclecot operation occupying the time of a character period, causing the initiation of such cycles by the influence of a receiving circuit, and causing the results of such cycles to be introduced into a sendin circuit.

11. The improved method or relaying electrical signals consisting in creating a recurring spacing cycle of magnetically initiated steps, such cycle covering a predetermined spacing period, creating a signaling cycle of magnetically initiated steps such cycle covering a predetermined signaling period, causing an incoming signal to suspend the recurrence of a spacing cycle at its termination and to initiate a signaling cycle, preventing the interruption of any of such cycles, during their progress, by an incoming signal, and causing the signal cycles to dispatch signals into the sending line.

12. The improved method of relaying electrical signals consisting in creating a recurring spacing cycle of magnetically initiated steps, such cycle covering a predetermined spacing period, creating a signaling cycle of magnetically initiated steps such cycle covering a predetermined signaling period, causing an incoming signal to suspend the recurrence of a spacing cycle at its termination and to initiate a signaling cycle, preventing the interruption or" any of such cycles, during their progress, by an incoming signal, causing the signal cycles to dispatch signals into the sending line, and causing the termination of an incoming signal to initiate a spacing cycle.

ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM. JOHN VISEMAN. 

